17. October 2016

Garden Bloom In October

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Russelia equisetiformis "Big Red"

For me, yesterday's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day coincided with a chance to visit Summerwinds Nursery, an opportunity which unabashedly ousted my Bloom Day post till today.  After all, this is the start of planting season here and the tables were loaded.  Every minute I could spare today went to planting, and there is still plenty left to do!

 

Meantime, I didn't want to miss my Bloom Day post altogether.  So out I went with camera in hand, only to find my flower photography preempted by an even more interesting subject.

hummingbird, anna's, photography, small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day

Hummingbirds are one of the important elements in this garden.  I love to have the garden alive with the tiny creatures, and to feel that the flowers I have planted are a source of delight for them, as they are for me.   Here is a quick look at the hummingbird flowers in bloom just now.

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day, hummingbird, anna's, photography
Female Anna's Hummingbird with distinctive red patch on throat. She is visiting Cuphea ignea "Vermillionaire".
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Hamelia patens
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Justicia californica

Annas hummingbird, desert garden, small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Ruellia brittoniana
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Russelia equisetiformis "Big Red"

But a number of other flowers must not be forgotten either as they brighten the garden.

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Berlandiera lyrata is looking a good deal fresher after the long summer, but it is badly in need of a trim. Its yellow daisies stay open longer this time of year.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Salvia leucantha "Santa Barbara" is a newcomer to blooming in this garden.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Sternbergia lutea is just finishing after a brief but spectacular bloom period. Seen here with a single flower of Tetraneuris acaulis.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Salvia farinacea died back to the ground at summer's end, then resprouted quickly and is once more in bloom.

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Oenothera lindheimeri, still more easily remembered as Gaura, has begun blooming again after a brisk trimming about a month ago.

And there are the roses.  Still only the miniatures are blooming heavily.

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
"Daniela", a perfect miniature red rose...
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
The lavender mini from Kordes...

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
The cream and pink mini from Jackson and Perkins.

Then there are the shrub roses.

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day, the alnwick rose
The Alnwick Rose is more than making up for a slow start last year.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day, rose
Wollerton Old Hall is nearing seven feet tall in the Central Bed.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Nearly spent blooms on "Sterling Silver" combine with the bright crimson of Salvia greggii, another favorite of the hummingbirds.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
In the rose border, "James Galway" has put on a fine show.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
And "The Generous Gardener" is once more producing blooms.

Finally, a few other glimpses around the garden.

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Eremophila hygrophana combined with Catharanthus roseus in the South Border.
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
There is abundant bloom on the lantana in the White and Silver Garden...
small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
...and we've seen an unexpectedly long bloom season from Lagerstroemia indica "Rhapsody in Pink".

Happy GBBD!  I'll be linking with May Dreams Gardens for this month's look at what is in bloom around my garden and around the world.

small sunny garden, amy myers, desert garden, garden bloggers bloom day
Cuphea ignea "Vermillionaire"

Weather Diary: Fair; High: 91 F (33 C)/Low: 60 F (16 C); Humidity: 14%-49%

Previous Post: Tuesday View


Tags: rose, Berlandiera, miniature, Sternbergia, Salvia, SterlingSilver, gbbd, Wollerton, alnwickrose, russelia, Hamelia, cuphea, Ruellia, Justicia, Oenothera, jamesgalway, lantana
Comments: 10 (Discussion closed)
  • #1

    danger garden (Monday, 17 October 2016 11:18)

    Oh that Russelia equisetiformis! It's a plant I long to grow. Someday maybe I'll find on early in the spring and go ahead and plant it as an annual. Great hummingbirds shots too!

    So can I ask, which Summerwinds? And do you live close? I was recently at the one on Tatum, killing time (in the best way) before meeting up with my sister in law at the HDepot for paint color selection. It was a quick trip (just 4 days) otherwise I would have loved to try and meet up with you!

  • #2

    Amy@Smallsunnygarden (Monday, 17 October 2016 11:54)

    Do let me know if you get the chance, Loree - would be wonderful! I go to the Summerwinds on Bell Rd. Elgin's in Tolleson is my other nursery; I think I remember you mentioning them in a post when I first discovered your blog. I'm about 45 min from each as we live off the NW edge of the city - so nursery shopping is not an everyday thing for me and I supplement with the box stores quite a bit! Hence my excitement Saturday... ;-) Hope you get a chance with Russelia!

  • #3

    Kris P (Monday, 17 October 2016 13:54)

    Great photos of the hummingbirds, Amy! I need to get a better camera, if only to catch them in flight. Your roses never cease to surprise me. I've never grown Ruellia (I'm not sure why as it's readily available here too) but I may have to remedy that omission. A belated happy GBBD!

  • #4

    danger garden (Monday, 17 October 2016 21:46)

    Well that makes me feel better Amy! I would hate to have learned you lived right by the Summerwinds I was shopping at. Next time I'm down that way I will definitely let you know. Sadly it's not as often as I would like.

  • #5

    Amy@Smallsunnygarden (Tuesday, 18 October 2016 08:51)

    I'm sure you'd enjoy photographing more hummingbirds in flight, Kris; be warned, it's addictive ;-) I have mixed feelings about the ruellia, which I'm keeping a close eye on, given its tendency to spread. But it can take full sun and heat, doesn't mind a light watering regimen, through late summer it was a mass of blooms, and the hummingbirds really love it. So it's staying if I can reasonably keep it under control! The dwarf forms might be better behaved, though I don't know. Quite a plant! And I love the dark stems and new growth; it makes a worthy foliage accent.

  • #6

    Amy@Smallsunnygarden (Tuesday, 18 October 2016 08:54)

    Loree, not to worry- we're not too close to anything! ;-) But if you have the time, please let me know!

  • #7

    rusty duck (Tuesday, 18 October 2016 14:44)

    Oh the hummingbirds must really love you. A real oasis in the desert!

  • #8

    Diana Studer (Tuesday, 18 October 2016 17:01)

    Wonderful to be able to cherish the hummingbirds, as I do our unphotographed sunbirds.

  • #9

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 19 October 2016 02:37)

    RD - I'm working hard to convince them... ;-) Lots and lots of small, bright red flowers full of nectar...!

  • #10

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 19 October 2016 02:50)

    Diana - They help bring a garden to life... I would love to see pictures of your sunbirds also ;-)